Arakun

Arakun: “He scratches with his hands” 

It was New Years Eve.  Kya stared hopelessly into the open closest of functional long sleeve shirts and trousers.  She was to meet her best friend Jenn at a popular downtown bar. The tan smocks she wore every day in the warehouse were devoid of style and made her skin look pale. Sometimes she would where a silk blouse underneath to combat the mundane and treat her skin to the dry cool sensation.

She pulled the two silk blouses out of the closet and laid them on the bed. Kya loved fashion but could not afford to keep up with the seasonal trends. However, if the fashion police stormed her door she would not be in violation, but instead applauded for her gravitation towards black.  Her satin bra partially revealed a tattoo, the footprint looked remarkably human. She was convinced after a sweat lodge retreat, she saw her spirit animal rise from the cinders. Kya grabbed the darkest shade of smokey silk off the bed and matched it with a silk pant she had worn to every company Christmas luncheon. The heal caps had fallen off her green faux snake skin shoes leaving the white plastic exposed. She thought no one would notice and found it hard to rationalize the longevity of quality compared to her paycheck.

animal totems

In birch bark canoe she paddles past rocky shores.

Fishing words from the universal rivers of truth.

 Cast into a net.

Uncomfortable, but still alive in this new air of consciousness.

Flopping to form structure,

Gutted, raw fleshy words.

Ideas simmer into being.

Fermented endings and beginnings.

Stories massaged for the feast.

Tonight we dance to beating drums.

Embracing our elders who have shown us the pen.

New legends appear through smoke and flame.

Animal totems are with us again.

Career Choices : Design your Career in Apparel/Fall 2006

         From the time you were able to use a sewing machine, have you been making your own clothes because retail garments did not reflect your sense of style? A career in Fashion Design will nurture your creativity of the cloth, and expose you to self employment, and manufacturing opportunities. According to Industry Canada, the apparel industry is the 6^th largest manufacturing sector in Canada. On February 27^th, 2004, the Honorable Lucienne Robillard, former Minister of Industry announced $26.7 million over the next three years would be invested into the Canadian apparel industry.

Today’s Healthcare Careers: Radiate in a Career of Caring/ Fall 2006

Today’The National Cancer Institute of Canada estimate there will be 153,100 new cases of cancer in 2006.  Half of all cancer patients will require radiation treatments. Radiation Therapists help thousands of individuals by administering and monitoring ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells and to keep them from multiplying.

            A career in Radiation Therapy will expose you to both therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. There are two types of radiation treatment- external beam and brachytherapy. With external beam, radiation is directed at the tumor from a radiation source outside of the body such as a linear accelerator. These treatments are usually done on an outpatient basis. Brachytherapy requires a radiation implant directly in the tumor.  Part of a therapist professional duty is to provide emotional support and counseling, explain procedures, answer questions, position patients and equipment.  Often a special relation between the patient, family members and therapist develop over the course of the treatments.